Packing-box



(No Model.)

A.E.BONEST EEL. PACKING BOX.

Patented Aug. 24,- 1886.

[ll] UH KNUBS UNTTED STATES PATENT ()FFICEO ALBERT E. BONESTEEL, OFTROY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO P. 86 F. CORBlN, OF NEXV BRITAIN,CONNECTICUT.

PACKING-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 347,917, dated August24, 18 86.

Application filed April 15, 1885. Serial No. 162,365. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known thatl, ALBERT E. BONES'IEEL, a citizen of the United States,residingin the city of Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Packing-Boxes;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Heretofore boxes, cases, and various other vessels and receptaclescontaining goods and wares prepared to be placed upon the shelves ofmerchants and exposed, shown, and exhibited for sale, have usually hadpasted or otherwise affixed to the covers thereof labels describing thenature, size, quality, and quantity of such goods and wares, andotherwise specifying and identifying the contents of such receptacles.

When there is a great variety of goods of the same general class, it isusual to designate the several varieties and distinguish one fromanother by arbitrary numbers, letters, or other symbols printed uponsuch labels. In some cases, however, such numbers, letters, and symbolsare not arbitrary, but signify the size or other characteristic of thearticle.

I believe that it is more common to affix labels to the covers of boxesand other receptacles than it is to the boxes and receptaclesthemselves, and when labels are so affixed to covers there is nocorresponding label, number,lettcr, or symbol upon or affixed to the boxor other receptacle to indicate to which box or other receptacle thecover belongs, and when the label is affixed to thebox or otherreceptacle its proper cover is not identified. Confusion andinconvenience result from this practice, particularly when several boxesof the same size and general appearance are opened and the contentsshown. An examination of the contents of each box is often necessary todetermine upon which box a cover bearing a certain label shall beplaced. Even with such examinations mistakes are frequent, owing to theresemblance of one va riety of goods to another, and to unfamiliaritywith the arbitrary numbers employed to designate different varieties,grades, and sizes, and

owing also to the difficulty of correctly associating the numbers withthe articles they are employed to designate by a more effort of thememory.

My invention is designed and intended to furnish a simple and completeremedy for the evil described. Iattain this object by means of thedevice illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1represents a box, and Fig. 2 its tion to such label upon the cover, Iprovide the box itself with a duplicate of the distinctive number,letter, or other symbol which appears upon the label affixed to thecover. This number, letter, or symbol may be included in an entireduplicate label, orit may be printed upon a small label or tag to bepasted upon the box, or it may be printed, writ-ten, or branded upon thesurface of the box.

In that class of boxes having covers equal in depth to the boxes towhich they are fitted, as the one shown in the drawings and having aportion of the edge of the cover cut away, as also shown, to afford aconvenient hold upon the box in removing the cover, I prefer to affixthe identifying number, letter, or symbol to that portion of the boxleft exposed by such cutting away. Thus the duplicate letters, numbers,or symbols on both box and cover are always visible, for comparison orother purposes, when the box is covered, as shown by the dotted line ab, Fig. 2, which indicates the position of the edge of the cover whenthe box is covered. In other easesahole may be so cut through any partof the cover as to expose the number, letter, or symbol attached to thebox.

hen the covers are removed from several boxes for the purpose ofexhibiting the wares contained in them, by means of my invention theycan be identified and properly replaced by observing the duplicatenumbers, letters,or symbols, without delay and without examination ofthe contents of each box, and the annoyance and confusion which resultfrom transposition of boxes and covers which otherwise occur, and whichare the causes of frequent complaint, are entirely avoided.

This invention is applicable and I intend to apply it to all manner ofboxes, cases, vessels, packages, and receptacles,of whatever nature, inwhich goods, wares, and merchandise are packed, and which have removablelids or covers, both in cases wherein the label is affixed to the lid orcover and the duplicate symbol to the box or other receptacle, and incases wherein the label is aflixed to the receptacle and the duplicatesymbol to the cover.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure byLetters Patent 1s- 1. As an improved article of manufacture, apacking-box and its cover, the cover provided with a label descriptiveof the contents of the box, said label including also the arbitrarynumber or symbol by which such contents are usually designated, aduplicate of such letter or symbol being also afiixed to the box, in themanner and for the purposes specified and shown.

2. As an improved'article of manufacture, a packing-box and its cover,the box provided with a label descriptive of the contents thereof, saidlabel including also the arbitrary numher or symbol by which suchcontents are usually designaterh'a duplicate of such letter or symbolbeing also afiixed to the cover, in the manner and for the purposesspecified and shown.

3. As an improved article of manufacture, labels for packing-boxes andthe lids or covers thereof, such labels bearing on their face thenumber, letter, or symbol employed to designate the contents of the box,such labels to be affixed to the covers, and duplicate letters, numbers, or symbols to be attached to the boxes, in the manner and for thepurposes specified and shown.

4. As an improved article of manufacture, labels for packing-boxes andthe lids or covers thereof, such labels bearing on their face thenumber, letter, or symbol employed to designate the contents of the box,such labels to be aflixed to the boxes, and duplicate letters, numbers,or symbols to be ailixed to the covers, in the manner and for thepurposes specified and shown.

5. The process of conveniently identifying and associating receptaclesfor goods and wares with the lids or covers which properly belong tothem and with the contents of such receptacles by means of duplicateletters, numbers, or other symbols, in the manner and for the purposesspecified and shown.

ALBERT E. BONESTEEL.

\Vitnesses:

JULIUS S. HAWLEY, A. S. WATERMAN.

